Weight problems, feeding problems

[lixm]

Wasn't sure if this fit better in the feeding section or the health section, I figured it covers more here...

So! It's been a while since I got my dragon, and he was already considerably skinny when I got him, and as of now he looks like he's gained exactly no weight or very little. This has been worrying me for a while, and it's something I've addressed in my other posts. So, I've been trying to do my part in getting his weight up, such as feeding him more veggies and trying out some more bugs to see if he'll eat them.

Well, besides the fact that he's gained no weight, he seems to like no bugs. He loves veggies, especially squash, and eats either his whole bowl or close to it every day. As for bugs? He was simply uninterested in both crickets and phoenix worms; he may have ate a few, but they'd linger in his tank for a while as he didn't go for them. Sometimes he wouldn't eat them at all and I'd have to take them out. I recently got wax worms, so I tried giving him those today. Again, he doesn't seem thrilled with them. He closes his eyes when I try to offer them by hand. He's too small for superworms, I think. My mom has a ban on roaches, and I can't seem to find silkworms anywhere.

Bottom line: I'm running out of things to try. It just seems like he doesn't like bugs, but I know he needs to eat them as he's still a juvenile and they'd also be good in helping him gain weight.

Besides his weight issues, he seems pretty healthy to me...good energy, sleeps well, basks a lot, eats his veggies, pink tongue, poops daily (a little runny sometimes, but looks okay). I just don't know what to do. I'm so worried about his weight and I don't know what else to try, or what could be making him behave like this. After all, isn't eating bugs supposed to be better than veggies for them? :/

I could use advice on this.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Hand feeding is always an option , and is easy to do once the beardie (or any lizard) get's the hang of it.

It's very enjoyable and a great way of bonding too.

You could also get something like HerpaBoost to give as supplement to build your dragon up a bit.

You could also try other insects such as superworms and silkworms (my dragons and skinks go bananas for a nice big juicy silkworm (partial to the moths too !)).
Essentially, I fish out a big silkworm, place on my chest infront of the lizard and it disappears and the only evidence it ever existed is bit of green goo on the lizard's lips and a pleased look on the lizard's face. They are superb as a staple (the mulberry leafs aren't a bad green too).

Some beardies are long and trim like people, and others are fat. If he's active and eating his greens and veg and getting sufficient Ca , just a matter of trying other insects and or handfeeding I think.

 

[auryncharm]

Your beardie may just not like Phoenix worms or crickets. My beardie ONLY will eat Phoenix/Reptiworms. Some are just plain picky. Luckily, there are several different feeders out there that you can try. Maybe give dubia or discoid roaches a try (a LOT of beardies seem to like these), or silk worms, or perhaps even super worms (if he's big enough). You might even want to try to toss a few insects into his salad. Since he seems to love his salad he may eat a few insects while he eats his salad. If you are concerned and he's eating none of them, I would try to hand feed them. My dragon only seems to eat his Reptiworms when I hand feed them. He's spoiled like that.